Door frame security plate

ABSTRACT

A member formed and fitted for use within a doorway framing side rail over the door stop and latch bolt hole and which includes stepped wall sections with a shoulder stop wall therebetween, a door latch bolt hole in one wall section between the shoulder stop wall and an edge flange, which serve to strengthen this area, and the use of wood screws of sufficient length to tie the latch hole plate member to the framing member and in turn to the wall framing studs therebehind.

United States Patent 1191 Lamphere 1 1 June 11, 1974 1 1 DOOR FRAME SECURITY PLATE 1,863,487 6/1932 Kirkpatrick 292/346 [76] n en Eug R- Lamphere 7 Revere 3,290,081 12/1966 Sushan 292/346 Pontiac, Mich. 48054 Primary Exammer--Richard E. Moore 1 1 Filed; 31, 1972 Attorney, 4 gent, pr F irm- Dale Austin Winnie [21] Appl. No.: 285,185

[57] ABSTRACT 2 a l s I a s u s s s u I I s I I I A a 'P Z framing side rail over the door stop and latch bolt hole 1 o 3 85 and which includes stepped wall sections with a shoul- 1 l l der stop wall therebetween, a door latch bolt hole in 56 R t d one wall section between the shoulder stop wall and l 1 e erences an edge flange, which serve to strengthen this area, UNITED STATES PATENTS and the use of wood screws of sufficient length to tie 1,056,095 3/1913 Groos 85/45 X the latch hole plate member to the framing member 256 9/1926 Viehweger 292/340 X and in turn to the wall framing studs therebehind. 1,814,961 7/1931 Phillips.. 292/346 1,853,456 4/1932 Ross 292/340 x 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DOOR FRAME SECURITY PLATE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A relatively common way to break into a home or business establishment is to kick-in the door.

The bolt hole for the door latch, or any safety lock provided, is required to be relatively close to the inner edge of the door frame member within which it is provided. And, consequently, the frame rail is considerably weakened at these points so that any appreciable force, such as a well placed kick, right at the latch or lock, or between them, will cause the frame rail to split and break away.

The striker plate about a bolt hole serves only to provide a clean edge for the bolt to catch behind and it is usually heldin place with relatively short screws so that.

the frame rail is not split and further weakened on each side of the bolt hole. Also, longer screws cannot be used since the bolt hole lies relatively over the inside wall board or plaster wall which would not hold them if they were used.

Since the striker plate is a relatively small separate member, it will also be appreciated that it may be improperly set originally allowing more than advisable space between the door and the stop shoulder, when the door is closed. This can allow the lock or latch to be slipped, unless it is of the dead-bolt type.

Although most exterior doorways are made with an integral stop shoulder in the door frame side rail, it will also be apparent that when the frame rail is of wood that the stop shoulder can be split in efforts to slip the latch or look.

For reasons such as these, more and more homes and business establishments are being provided with metal doorway frames where greater strength is inherent in having the bolt hole formed within the metal frame rails and where the stop shoulder is part of the metal frame structure.

However, the problem remains for older homes and business establishments, those who prefer the appearance of wood, and those who cannot afford the expense of refrarning their entrance doorways.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION This invention is directed to a security plate which may be fitted into a wooden door framing side rail and will serve to strengthen and reinforce the side rail so that it cannot be kicked-in, in the manner mentioned.

The security plate is of pre-cast or extruded aluminum, of sufficient width to emcompass the door latch bolt hole and the door stop shoulder, and of sufficient length to extend considerably above and below the latch bolt hole. It is structurally reinforced by rib rails at its edges and the shoulder wall and it is of sufficient length and width to enable a plurality of wood screws, of considerable length, to be used to tie it and the door frame side rail to the two-by-four wall studs that frame the entranceway.

The cross-sectional shape of the security plate enables it to be extruded and to be subsequently cut in given lengths and provided with the latch bolt and screw holes as desired. This, in turn, reduces the production cost and enables the product to be sold at a reasonable cost to potential customers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a security plate made in accord with the teachings of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken through a door frame and wall, showing the security plate as mounted for use.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the security plate as mounted in a door frame in an entrance doorway.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the inner edge of the security plate.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a fragmentary section of the security plate showing a detail of the fasteners used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT The security plate 10 shown in the drawing figures is a pre-cast or preferably extruded aluminum piece of approximately 5 inches in width and 10 inches in length. Its width, and particularly its length, may vary however, in certain instances, for purposes and reasons later discussed.

It is about /8 inch in thickness and includes relatively stepped parallel face wall sections 12 and 14 with an interconnecting shoulder wall 16 therebetween and it has in turned or rearwardly extended rib flanges l8 and 20 that extend the full length of each face wall section along their outer disposed edges.

It is also formed to include screw holes 22 in the wall section 12 and a door latch bolt hole 24 and at least two screw holes 26 in the other wall section 14; with the screw holes 26 positioned relatively near the shoulder wall 16 and spaced above and below the door latch bolt hole 24.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the security plate 10 is shown fitted into the side rail 28 of a door frame which includes the door stop shoulder 30.

The wall construction behind the door frame includes a pair of two-by-four wall framing studs 32 and 34 to which the inner wall board panel 36 and outer sheathing 38 is fastened, with the outer siding 40 fastened to the latter, and a filler 42, as required, behind the side rail 28. Door frame moldings 44 and 46 are subsequently added, as will be appreciated, on the outer and inner sides of the door frame and to overlap the back edge of the side rail 28.

The door frame side rail 28 is milled out, as is conventionally known and done for small striker plates, to receive the security plate 10 with its door latch bolt hole 24 over the hole 48 provided in the side rail. In addition, a saw kerf or slot 50 is formed to receive the rib flange 18.

Wood screws 52 three inches or more in length are subsequently used to fasten the security plate 10 clear through the frame rail 28 and to the two'by-fours 32 and 34 behind it.

The flush mounting of the security plate 10 within the frame side rail 28, and the added width provided at its front edge by the rib flange l8, precludes anyone from prying it loose. Additionally, the wood screws 52, that are exposed, are preferably provided with a dove tail slot 54, as shown in FIG. 5, and are subsequently filled with a liquid solder or like composition 56 once they are set and so that they cannot be readily removed.

Even with the screws in the wall section 12 removed, those in the shorter wall section 14, which are inaccessible behind a closed door, will adequately hold and prevent any forced entry.

FIG. 4 shows that the edge of the security plate is beveled, as at 58, to serve as the striker plate lip adjacent to the door latch bolt hole 24, since the security plate eliminates the conventionally known striker plate over the door latch bolt hole 48 in the frame rail.

It will be noted that the close proximity of the shoulder stop wall 16 and of the rib or flanged edge 20 along both sides of the door latch bolt hole 24 serves to strengthen and reinforce this area. Further, there is a square shoulder wall 60 and added thickness behind the rib or flanged edge 20 and the back side of the wall section 14 to further strengthen this area.

The advantages gained in the use of the disclosed security plate 10 are derived from the fact that it is, of itself, a structural member having appreciable width and length. As mounted and retained with screws of sufficient length, it ties and holds together the frame rail and the doorway framing two-by-fours. And, it includes as an integral part the door stop shoulder in fixed relation to the door latch bolt hole, and thereby assures a minimum spacing between the stop shoulder and the door, when it is closed, and minimizes the chance of someone slipping the door latch, as is sometimes possible without a dead-lock bolt and when this spacing is too great.

The width of the security plate 10 may vary but should always be inclusive of the inset part of the door frame side rail, the stop shoulder and a major part of the door stop, when formed as a part of the side rail. In those instances where a separate door stop rail is used, which is seldom done on entranceway and exit doors, the forward rib rail 18 may be more of a flange to enclose the stop rail within it and to extend into a kerf or slot in the side rail underneath.

The length of the security plate 10 may also vary. Generally, it will be at least twice the width of the plate and of adequate length to receive at least one screw well above and below the door latch bolt hole provided within it. Since the screw holes are spaced about three inches apart, normally, the recommended lengths for the security plate would be in 6 inch increments to provide space for an additional screw at each end.

I claim:

1. Security means for use in exterior and other doorways which include doorway framing wall studs having a doorway framing side rail provided thereover, a door stop provided on said side rail, and a door latch bolt hole provided within said side rail, said security means comprising; a member formed for relative fitted engagement within the face of said side rail over said door stop and door latch bolt hole, said member including parallel stepped wall sections having an interconnecting shoulder stop wall provided thcrebetween and in turned flanges at the outer disposed edges of said wall sections extending normal thereto and throughout their full length, a door latch bolt hole provided in one of said wall sections between said shoulder stop wall and an edge flange and having the side edges thereof relatively strengthened by the close proximity of said shoulder stop wall and edge flange, said door latch bolt hole being formed and disposed for relative alignment with and over the door latch bolt hole in said side rail, screw holes provided through both of said wall sections and including at least two thereof closely adjacent said shoulder stop wall and located respectively above and below said bolt hole, and wood screws received in said screw holes of sufficient length for fastening and fixing said wall sections within said side rail and in turn to said framing wall studs therebehind for appreciably strengthening and reinforcing said doorway framing side rail in the immediate vicinity of said door latch bolt holes.

2. The security means of claim 1, the wall section including said door latch bolt hole being beveled at its outer edge throughout its full length and the edge flange thereat being of increased relative thickness and including a square shoulder wall next adjacent said door latch bolt hole.

3. The security means of claim 1, the edge flange adjacent said door latch bolt hole and on the underside of said one wall section being of a relative thickness to provide a square shoulder wall closely adjacent said door latch bolt hole for added strengthening thereof.

4. The security means of claim 2, said wood screws including clove tail screw driver slots of such form and shape as is receptive and retentative of a solidifying material therewithin for closing and obscuring the same. 

1. Security means for use in exterior and other doorways which include doorway framing wall studs having a doorway framing side rail provided thereover, a door stop provided on said side rail, and a door latch bolt hole provided within said side rail, said security means comprising; a member formed for relative fitted engagement within the face of said side rail over said door stop and door latch bolt hole, said member including parallel stepped wall sections having an interconnecting shoulder stop wall provided therebetween and in turned flanges at the outer disposed edges of said wall sections extending normal thereto and throughout their full length, a door latch bolt hole provided in one of said wall sections between said shoulder stop wall and an edge flange and having the side edges thereof relatively strengthened by the close proximity of said shoulder stop wall and edge flange, said door latch bolt hole being formed and disposed for relative alignment with and over the door latch bolt hole in said side rail, screw holes provided through both of said wall sections and including at least two thereof closely adjacent said shoulder stop wall and located respectively above and below said bolt hole, and wood screws received in said screw holes of sufficient length for fastening and fixing said wall sections within said side rail and in turn to said framing wall studs therebehind for appreciably strengthening and reinforcing said doorway framing side rail in the immediate vicinity of said door latch bolt holes.
 2. The security means of claim 1, the wall section including said door latch bolt hole being beveled at its outer edge throughout its full length and the edge flange thereat being of increased relative thickness and including a square shoulder wall next adjacent said door latch bolt hole.
 3. The security means of claim 1, the edge flange adjacent said door latch bolt hole and on the underside of said one wall section being of a relative thickness to provide a square shoulder wall closely adjacent said door latch bolt hole for added strengthening thereof.
 4. The security means of claim 2, said wood screws including dove tail screw driver slots of such form and shape as is receptive and retentative of a solidifying material therewithin for closing and obscuring the same. 